Word Origin & History

c.1500, from dirt + -y (2). Earlier dritty (late 14c.). Meaning "smutty, morally unclean" is from 1590s. Of colors, from 1690s. Dirty linen "personal or familial secrets" is first recorded 1860s. Dirty work in the figurative sense is from 1764; dirty trick is from 1670s. The dirty look someone gives you is from 1928; dirty old man "superannuated lecher" is from 1932. Related: dirtiness.

Example Sentences for dirtiest

His name was Sampo Singi, and he was the dirtiest fellow I ever saw in my life.

Her people are backward, and, at least in Cuzco and Arequipa, I should say the dirtiest in the world.

The place was like any other Chinese city, and was quite as dirty as the dirtiest of them.

The spot where I was to rest for the night was the dirtiest.

This particular greaser was the laziest, the dirtiest, the most worthless of the lot.

She was a farmer's wife, and they were huddled in the dirtiest bit of a hovel that I ever saw.

The latter was the dirtiest piece of furniture in the establishment.

I would scrub floors, as he said, I would do anything, the dirtiest work.